Mechanical time release



April 28, 1925.

`1,5.-5,9?3'v I Rc. LEAKE f 'MECHANICAL TIME RELEASE Filed Feb, 10J 19203 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. l.

pr Z8, 1925.

R. C. LEAKE MECHANICAL TIME RELEASE 3 Sheeucs-Sheef 2 Filed Feb. l0,1920 TORNE April 28, 1925.

R. c. LEAKE MECHANICAL TIME RELEASE Filed Feb. 10, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5FIGB.

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Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

.IFT ED" STA 'F ES N` T OF F l CE.

RICHARD U. IiEll-E, UF" ROCJEESTER; NEW YORK, AElElGNGEt T0 RAILWAY.

SGNAL CMPNY, GROCHESTER, NEW YGBIQA CRPOR/ATIONI @F NEW`YORK,

Application filed February 10, 1920. Serial No. 357,639.

To all 'u1/0m 'it may concern.'

lie it known that l. RICHARD C. l'lnAirn, a citisen or the UnitedStates, and resident oi' the cit)7 of Rechester, in the county of Monroeand State of New Yorlr, have inven ed anew and usefulV h'lecliai-uicalTime lelease, of which the following is ay speciiica t i on.

This invention relates topmechanical.time releases which areparticularly adapted for use in connection with the levers oi'f inter-.,b machines for railways. hflechanical tinic releases are commonlyapplied in practice to av lcv-er oi" :ininter- `locking;` machine forthe purpose ot prevent# ma` movementy of said lever *from*` one posi-`tion to another until a-'Eter the lapse of a predetermined time. `lVhenthe release. is applied to a lever', for example,. a` signal lever, theoperator in a tower', havingl set p a route for air appreaching` trainand calcari-id the signal, may return` the lever to its normalindication positionl` and put 'the signal to stop; but on account of.the time release mechanism, the 'operator is prevented vfrom returningthe lever toitsv inlh normalposition so as -to releasethe mechanicallocking` oli a conflicting route, until after the lapse el' a:predetermined'timev for which the time release is adjusted. a.mechanical time release of. this type is disclosed in the patent. to`HL B. Taylor,

No; 1,245,183, dated October 30, 191,7; and? the present invention 1s animprovement upon this particular construction..

U e ohject'oit the present invention` is 'to improve the constructionYof' mechanical releases of the type vdescribed and pro- `vide a simple,reliable and eliicient device,

which comprises *few and simple parts, and which can he easily andcheaply manufactured. i

(.lthor detaill -olijects and advantages will appear hereinafter duringthe. description olf the invention.

In describing' the invention in dctaihre'tercnce will he made to theaccompanyingA drawings, in which like reference'characters designatecorrespondingl parts in the several views, and1 in whiclie Figure l is aside elevationA of my ,improved tiinerelease mechanism applied 'to alever of an interlocking; machine, one ,oli the side vplates of themechanism being` Une i form oi.

broken away and some parts shown in section `for the sake of clearness;

Fig'. 2' is an' enlarged horizontal'` section taken substantially on theline 9f-2` in Fig. l", with the cover and hase omitted; i

Figs. 3 and 3A' are detail views;

Fig. l is af diagrammatic view, partly in perspective, with certainpabrts broken away and spread apart for the salie of clcarness1 whichshows in a simplified manner the principalv operating` parts oi:l myimproved time release mechanism in positions correspending,` to thenormal position oi" the lever;

Fig. 5 is fragmentary view similar Fig. 1l, which shows the positionsor" the loclr bolt, the driving` plunger and associated? parts when thelever is in the reverse position;

Fig. 6 is a verticaltransverse section on the line 6 6 inlilig. l, and

Z is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 7 in Figui. v

'lhe mechanical time release mechanism emhodying'vV my inventioncomprises iii general a hase ir which is secured to the lever guides bybolts or other suitalileineans (not shown) above the usualI slidahle haror lever L. This hase A is .provided near its ends with integrali lugs lto 'which' rectangular side plates 2 are fastened h v screws rllheseside plates'Q constitute 'the supports for the various operating` partsand are connected together hy spacingl studs 41a in the way commonlyemployed in `clhcliworl; mechanisms. The timing: mechanismv is of theclockwork type, and comprises a` train oiigears, mounted on transverseshafts supported hy the side plates 2, and driven by a coiled spring 5.The springt is scoured at one end to a main shaftI (l by the usual pinand slot connection, and its other end is looped around pin 7 lined inone oit' the side plates 2, said spring` being conlined h v smaller pins8` fined'V in said side plate. Tlieinain shaft 6 is connected by pawlandratchet of ordinary construction to the lirst gear wheel 9 oi thenean train. In the construction shown sce Fig.. 3) the gear 9 carriesspring pressed pawlsl() which cooperate with the teetliof a ratchetwheel ll fastened. to or integral with said.v main shaiit (il in vsuch amanner that when the main shalt is rotated in one direction,-coil spring5 is wound up without operating the gear train, and when the spring ispermitted to unwind, the main shaft drives the gear train. r"he geartrain includes a pinion 12 on a shaft 18, large gear 1l driven by saidpinion, and a second pinion 15 on a shaitt 16. in escapeinent wheel 1'?is secured to the sli-att 1G, and a weighted pallet 18 loosely mountedon a transverse shaft or pin 19, cooperates with said escapement wheel17 to li iit thc speed at which the gears in the 'train may rotate whiledriven by the spring 5. The arms ot the pallet 18 are provided withholes by means ci which additional weights 2() (see Fig. 3A) may beadded to change the weighting of said pallet and thus vary the timingoit the apparatus. ri`he clockufork mechanism above described is woundup and vauton'iatically released by the lever L. To the main shaft 6 isiiied a pinion 21 which meshes with a gear sector loosely journaled on ashat't 28 supported in the side plates 2. rhis gear sector 22 has an arm2st in which is threaded a vertically adjustable screw 25, the end otsaid arni being split and provided with a clamping screw 2G (see Fig. 2)tor the purpose ot locking the adjusting screw `Loosely journaled on theshaft 23 are two parallel rocking levers 27, preferably arranged onopposite sides et the sector gear 22 and spaced from the adjacent sideplates by collars rlhese levers 27 are connected near one end by twotransverse pins 29 and 30 held in place by cotter pins. @ne pin 30 isconnected to the upper end ot a vertically movable driving plunger 81which extends downufard between two rocking levers 27 (see Figs. 4t and7) and passes loosely through a guiding hole in the base A, the lowerend of said plunger being beveled for the purpose hereinafter explained.The other pin 29 is arranged to strike the adjusting screw 25 when thedriving plunger 81 and the levers 2? are raised.

Between the inner ends of the levers 27 is a vertically movable lockbolt B which has a lower rounded portion 82 extending downward through aguiding hole in the base A. The upper portion of this bolt B isbiturcated or split to torni two side portions 33 straddling the gearsector (sec Fig. 6); and said bolt is guided near its upper end by twotransverse pins 3l secured to the side plates 2. Near the upper end ofthe bolt B is a transverse pin 35, and on each side of said bolt is aplunger 3G having an enlarged eye loosely mounted on. said pin and heldthereon by a cotter pin. The lower end ot each plunger is guided in anangle bracket 8T secured to the corresponding side plate 2. Acompression spring 38 surrounds each plunger 38, and bears against thebracket 3? and the head ot said plunger, so as to urge said plunger andlock bolt i3 upward to the position shown in Figs. l and d, said upwardmovement heilig limited by a small transverse pin in each plunger 3Gengaging the corresponding bracket 87. Each side portion 33 ot' the lockbolt B is cut away to leave a shoulder ll0 arranged to be engaged by alatch dog 41 pivotally mounted on a pin Ll2 iixed in the side plates 2.This latch dog 41 is thrown into its latehing position by a sj ring 43,and is disposed so as to be struck and released by a shoulder irl ot thegear sector 22 (see Figs. 4- and 5). Fixed in the bolt B below levers 27is a pin 39.

ln the construction illustrated l have made provision for the operationot a circuit controller in conjunction with the locking and unlockingoit the bolt B. rl`his circuit controllcr comprises a contact pin 45extending transversely through a block d6 ot insulating material whichis secured to the upper end ot the lock bolt B bv the pin 35 whichsupports the plungers 3G. 'l'his contact pin 475 is arranged to bridge apair ot fixed contact lingers Ll, when the lock bolt B is raised.rl`hesc Contact lingers il-7, together with their retainers 18 areclamped by binding posts 19 to a block 50 oi insulating material whichrests on the top edges of the side plates 2 and which is clamped'thereto by a hook bolt 51 (see Fig. 1). To protect the mechanism fromdirt or inalicious tampering, it is preferably enclosed in a suitablesheet metal cover 52, which is held in place by a thumb nut 53 on thehook bolt 51, a suitable seal being provided 'tor this thumb nut 58, ifdesired. f

For the purpose ot informing the operator that the lock bolt B has beenwithdrawn, l provide a striker 5l which coniprises a ball on the end ofthe wire loosely mounted on one of the guide pins l-l, said rod beingstruck by the jump of the lock bolt B to its unlocked position and beingthereby flung against the cover 52 so as to give distant click.

For the purpose of illustrating and e3:- plaining the operation of myimproved time release mechanism, l have shown it in connection with oneot the slidable levers used in one well known type or interlockingniachine. rThis lever L comprises a rectangular bar mounted edgewise insuitable, guides (not shown) so that it may be slid baci: and forth, asuitable handle being provided to facilitate its manual operation. Thislever L has a cam slot 5G (see Figs. 1 and rl) formed thereon in whichis disposed a roller 57 carried by the upper end ot a tappet rod 58forming part ot' the usual mechanical interlocking of such machines. lnthe upper edge ot the lever L a notch is eut out to torni a shoulder 59and an incline GO. rl`he lever has four significant positions, a lullnormal position shown in Figs. 1 and l, a

llO

:.,eeegees normal indication position, a reverse indication positionshown in llig. and a fullereverse position. 1n connection withtheoperation of this invention, it should be understood that When thelever is moved from the lull reverse position, the mechanicalinterlocking is not released until the lever reaches its i'ull normalposition and moves the roller 5'? and tappet bar 58 to its lovvermostposition; and the purpose of my time release mechanism is to preventsuch movement to the full normal position until after the lapse of acertaintime.

Opcm'c'mtf-Thc lever L is shown in lliggs. 1 and el in its full normalposition, and the parts ot the time release mechanism in correspondinglposition. lfllhen the lever la is moved to the reverse indicationposition shown in F 5 (to the right as viewed in lilies. l and theincline 60 of the notch in said lever engages the beveled end ot thedrivingy plunger 3l and `forces it up iard, therehvr rocking` the levers2i" which in turn strike pin 3l) and project the loclr bolt ll downward,against the, opposition or" the springs 38, to the position in back ofthe shoulder 59, as shown in 5. Duringl this upward movement oi' thedriving' plunger ,31, the adj'Listing` screw Q5 is struck b v the pin 29in the levers 2?, otter the space normally intervening between said pinand screw has been taken up, and 'thus roclisthe gear sector Q2,rotating the pinion 21 and the main shaft G in the countercloclwisedirection, tliereb7 Winding` up the coil spring 5 Without turning` thegear 9, since the pawls 10 click idly over the teeth of the ratchetWheel 1l. iis the gear sector 22 is moved, the latch dogg; il is swung bv the spring; into engagement with the shoulders i0 on the lock bolt l.[is long as the lever L remains in the reverse or reverse indicationposition, the driving.;` plunger 31 is held up and the parts ot thetiming;` mechanism cannot operate.

lf now the lever L is moved toward its normal position (to the left asviewed in .Figa 5), the shoulder strikes the lool: bolt and preventsmovement or said lever bevond the normal indication position. "lhedriving plunger 3l, however, is no longer held up, and the coil spring'tree to rotate the main shaft 6 clockwise, driving gear 9 through pawlsl() and ratchet Wheel 1l., and thesescapement Wheel 17 through the othergears of the train. As the escapement Wheel 1"? is rotated, the pallet1S is oscillated, so that this return movement oit the main shaft 6taires place slowly at a rate determined b v the Weight of the arms ofthe pallet 18. Alter the lapse of time for Which the device is adjusted,the `gear sector 22 is moved h v the coil spring' 5 lar enough to tripthe latch dog` eil, thereby releasing` the loelr bolt 13 and permittingit to be snapped up by the springs 38. This releases the lever L andpermits it being moved to its full normal position. The operator isadvised ot the unlocking' operation by the click oit the striker 54- onthe cover 52.

From the orepjoing it can be seen that my time release mechanismprevents a. lever being returned to its full normal position,

ter it has been moved to the reverse position, until after tlielapse ofa predetermined interval o'lf time. Thus, after the operator has set upone route, and has cleared the signal governing treiic over this renteby putting` the lever li to the reverse position, he is able to changethe signal bacl to stop, ineparatory to changing` the route, by puttingthe lever L back to its normal indication position, but is unable to putthe lever hack to its full normal position and release the mechanicalinterlocking controlling the levers lor the switches, derails or thelike et the route in question.

lit, there'liore, the signal governing;l the route has heen cleared anda train has aecepled that sipgi'ial, there vvill ordinarilyv be timeenough Yfor the train to pass through the plant before the operator canchange the switches or derails or' the route. Other features andadvantages of siich a time checl: upon the operator is provided b v myinvention are Well known in practice and need not Je specificallyexplained.

The time or operation olf the device may be adjusted by screvving;` theadjusting screw in or out, thus waiyiiiel spacerbetiveen said screw andthe pin llhis in turn varies the extent to which the sector 22 isrocked, and, therefore', the amount ot timed movement it must make whenreleased betere tripping the latch oog' The timingl maniT also be variedby changln.j the Weight of the arms ci the pallet 18.

rIihe construction of the time release mechanism shown and describedcomprises in general the same organization and arrangement of partsdisclosed in the Taylor patent above mentioned; and for brevity thisprior construction Will be referred to in the claims as the time releasemechanism or the character described.

1tegal-ding` the specific improvements constituting the presentinvention, among other things it will. be noted that the loch bolt B iss spendcd from its upper end, beingl guided at its lower end bv the holein the base A and at its middle bv the pins 3l bearing against `itsedges. This construction prevents binding` or weer of the parts, sincethe springs 36 act directlyY on line with the bolt toliit it withoutforcing; it sidervise.

1n addition to the adjustment ot the time interval oli the mechanismailorded b v the screw 25, which varies the extent ol Windmovement oitthe time controlled mechanism, provision is made for easily changing1alla the Weight of the pallet 18, so as to adapt the parts for a widerrange of timing operation than could be conveniently obtained byadjustment of the screw 25.

rEhe circuit controlling feature may be used or omitted, as desired. ltsuse provides ior the opening and closing oi a circuit corresponding tothe locked and unlocked position ot the lever, this circuit for instancebeingl the indication circuit; and in some arrangements such circuitcontrolling means may he used to advantage.

Obviously, the exact construction shown and described may he modifiedand changed Without departing from my invention, and l desire to have itunderstood that the particular embodiment selected is merelyillustrative.

lilfhat I claim as new and desire Yto secure by Letters Patent ot theUnited States, is:

ln a time release mechanism ot the character described, the combination"with a lever, a vertically movable locking bolt actuated hy said leverand adapted to prevent movement ot said lever in one. direction in apredetermined position thereof, and circuit controlling meansautomatically opened and closed in correspondence wi th the movement ofsaid bolt to its locking and unlocking positions.

2. ln a time release mechanism of Ithe specilic character described, thecomhination with a lever, a vertically movable locking` holtautomatically projected by the movement oi said lever into position tolock said lever against movement in one direction in a predeterminedposition thereof, a circuit controller actuated by said bolt and openedand closed respectively as the bolt assumes its locking and unlocking`positions.

3. A mechanical time release for levers o interlocking' machines,comprising tivo side plates arranged side loy side and separated byspacing' studs, a contact block mounted on the edges of said side platesand clamped in position by a hook bolt adapted to hook under one of saidspacing studs and provided With clampingv nuts for holding,- the block,circuitcontrolling means carried lu' said contact block and securedthereto hy binding posts, and time controlled means actuated by themovement oi' the lever tor opening' and closing` said circuitcontrollingl means.

4t. A mechanical time release tor levers ot interlocking machines,coniprising tivo side plates arranged side by side and separated byspacinp` studs, a contact block mounted on the edges of said plates andclamped in position by a hook holt adapted to hook under one of saidspacine studs and provided uith clamping` nuts ttor holding the hlock.circuit controlling means carried hy said contact block and securedthereto hy hinding posts, and time controlled means actuatedmechanically hy the movement ot the lever lor locking and unlocking saidlever and Al'or opening and closing the circuit controlling' means inaccordance with the locked and unlocked condition of the lever.

n a time release mechanism of the character described, the combinationwith the locking holt, its latch and the spring` actuated timecontrolled means for relcasin the latch, ot adjustable means for varyingthe extent of Winding movement of the time controlled means for the sameniovement et the locking holt, and a pallet adapted to have weightsattached thereto, ivherehy coarse and fine adjustments of the timing;operation o'l' said mechanism may he ol tained.

RCHARD C. LEA KE.

